The Poetry Corner

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCXLVI. Love And Matrimony.

By Unknown

[This is part of a little work called 'Authentic Memoirs of the little Man and the little Maid, with some interesting particulars of their lives,' which I suspect is more modern than the following. Walpole printed a small broadside containing a different version.] There was a little man, And he woo'd a little maid, And he said, "little maid, will you wed, wed, wed? I have little more to say, Than will you, yea or nay, For least said is soonest mended-ded, ded, ded." The little maid replied, Some say a little sighed, "But what shall we have for to eat, eat, eat? Will the love that you're so rich in Make a fire in the kitchen? Or the little god of Love turn the spit, spit, spit?"